How a Laser Can Defeat Your Fungal Nails

When you hear someone talking about lasers, you may not immediately think of fungal nails. More likely laser tag, the aliens in the most recent sci-fi movie, or a light saber in Star Wars comes to mind. The lightsaber is a weapon carried by a Jedi who has the skill and confidence to use it to blast through enemies. In the foot world, you could think of your podiatrist as a Jedi who can use laser therapy to blast away infections of the foot.

A toenail fungus problem can be easily picked up and can easily grow and spread, but is not always easily resolved. This type of infection can be resistant to treatment and has a tendency to recur. It causes nails to become discolored and brittle—an unsightly problem that can also be painful. To provide our patients with the most effective treatment available, we often turn to laser treatment to combat this enemy.

For complete restoration, laser treatment is a safe and effective option. With this type of therapy, a focused beam of light is directed under the infected toenail to destroy the fungus embedded in the nail bed and nail plate. It only targets the fungus and does not destroy or damage healthy nail and tissues. It is a quick procedure (roughly ten minutes is all that is needed), and there is no pain during or after the treatment. The severity of your infection and how many toes are infected will dictate how many sessions you need to fully get rid of the fungal infection. This treatment is very effective, and a new healthy nail usually grows out within six to nine months.

If laser treatment isn’t an option for you, oral medications may be prescribed. They are often used in combination with topical creams. If you are ready to get rid of an ugly toenail fungus problem, contact Mark Gasparini, D.P.M. to discuss all of your fungal nail treatment options. Call our Massapequa, NY office at (516) 804-9038 today or request an appointment online.